Food and Nutrition supervisor reports 5.6% rise in meals served; summer feeding to run at Central Mountain Middle School with limited pick‑up sites

Sharon Berger, Keystone Central’s food and nutrition service supervisor, told the board on April 10 that student participation in district meal service is up 5.6% from August–March compared with the prior year — an increase she said translates to about 27,000 additional meals — and summarized staffing and program changes the department has implemented.

Berger said the district participates in the Community Eligibility Provision (all students share free meals) and that higher participation reflects students taking advantage of that program. The nutrition office conducted a student survey and launched “specialty stations” at the secondary level; it also formed a student tasting committee to do blind taste tests and incorporate student feedback into menu planning.

Summer feeding program: Berger said the district will run a community feeding program at Central Mountain Middle School beginning in June (program start date announced as Monday in June) and running for four weeks, concurrent with the ESY (extended school year) special‑education program. Meals will be open to all children ages 1–18, regardless of whether they attend Keystone Central schools. To meet Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) distribution rules, the service will issue bundled meals with distribution on Mondays and Thursdays (a four‑day bundle and a three‑day bundle split across those days). Berger and board members discussed access for residents of distant parts of the county; Berger said the program is approved for pick‑up at the middle school but an adult may pick up meals on behalf of multiple children or families under PDE allowance.

Operational notes and regulations: Berger said PDE nutrition rules will become more restrictive on sodium and added sugar beginning in July and that the district is revising recipes (including homemade mac and cheese) to meet nutrient analysis requirements. She also discussed planned cafeteria furniture renovations with purchase orders already awarded and installation scheduled for July.

Board reaction: several board members praised the increase in participation and the department’s efforts to engage students. Some members asked whether more distribution sites could be added to serve remote areas such as Renovo or Sugar Valley; Berger and board members said staffing, food safety rules and the ESY schedule limited distribution this year but that volunteers and transport options could be explored for future summers.